#southern romance

[miyuhpapayuh]

lovers and friends.

Sitting at the square bar top table inside of Flavor, the trio sit and await the arrival of Mya’s very unaware date.

“Are you nervous?” Taylor asks Mya, who’s been smoothing her clammy hands over her dress for the last fifteen minutes.

“Huh?”

Mercedes squints in her direction, making Taylor laugh. “If you can “huh”, you can hear. Relax, girl!”

“I’m relaxed! I just need y’all to be nice.”

“I’m always nice. It’s that one,” Taylor points her manicured finger across the table, “that you have to watch.”

“I don’t need to be watched, you peasant.” She rolls her eyes.

“Anywho. You might not oblige, but I would like to talk to your friend, alone.” Mercedes says, watching the slight horror come across Mya’s face.

“I don’t know, cedes…”

“Listen, before you start! I just wanna talk to him. I won’t interrogate, per say. Just some friendly badgering if you will!”

Face palming, she reluctantly agrees. “Okay. Just let me warn him, first.” She pulls out her phone to text him.

“Oh my gosh, am I that bad?”

Taylor and Mya give her the same look, answering her question.

“Fair enough.” She shrugs.

“He’s coming in, now.  Please be nice, y’all.” Mya pleads. Her nerves begin to get the best of her.

Her eyes wander around the crowd in search of him.

“Aw, look at ‘er, searching for her boo!” Mercedes pokes fun.

Rolling her eyes, they land on him and all his glory.

“There he is.” She smiles as he looks in her direction, making his way over to their table.

“Hello, ladies.” He greets, holding three pink roses in his hand. “I thought it’d be rude to come empty handed.”

“Ugh! How sweet is that!” Taylor takes a rose from his hand. “I like you, already. I’m Taylor.”

Mercedes smirks, taking hers. “Yes, very sweet of you, Isaiah.”

He chuckles. “Ah, you must be the infamous Mercedes.”

“The one and only.” She flips her hair over her shoulder. Mya laughs, shaking her head.

“It’s nice to finally meet the both of you.” He says, turning his attention towards his flushed faced beauty of a date.

“You look beautiful.” He compliments as she grabs the last rose from his hand.

“Thank you, handsome.” She kisses his cheek. “I’ll let you two,” she looks between him and Mercedes, “get to talkin’. We’ll be at the bar.”

“She acts like I’m gonna chew you up.” She starts laughing.

“And, spit his ass out!” Taylor jokes.

“Right! Don’t act like we don’t know you, cedes. Behave.” Mya gives her a death glare.

“I will! Jesus.”

Isaiah looks between the three of them, amused.

“Y’all are funny.”

“Yeah, you should stick around for when the laughter stops.” Mya sighs. “Anywho, we’ll be over there.”

“Holler if you need saving.” Taylor continues, before dragging Mya towards the bar.

“Make yourself comfortable, I don’t bite… I fight.” She smiles. He snorts and sits across from her.

“I respect it.”

“That’s so good to hear. Now, tell me.. what drew you to my best friend, besides the fact that she is as pretty as she is?” She tilts her head.

Squinting at her, he chuckles. “Using my own words against me. Clever.”

“Not as clever as you. Nice game, I’ll admit.”

“Thank you, thank you.” He graciously clasps his hands together.

“Anyhow.. she’s very intellectual, for starters. She’s got a bunch of what she calls “useless facts” in her head that she likes to share. They’re not as useless as she thinks, though.”

“I’ve told her that a thousand times.” She adds.

“Don’t tell her this, but I’ve taken a couple of those and put ‘em to use.” They share a laugh.

“Really?”

“Yeah!” He grows excited. “She was peeling an orange one day, while informing me that a red bell pepper’s got three times more vitamin C than it. I went to go see my sister and I had to share the info, even though she didn’t really care.”

“See, that one I had no idea about. Makes you almost wonder.. what’s the point of the orange, then?”

“Exactly. They might as well start juicing the peppers.” He jokes, making her laugh, once more.

“Are they.. laughing??” Mya asks, having not taken her eyes off them since she sat down.

“How can you tell? We’re like ten feet away.” Taylor says, knocking back a shot of brandy.

“Her shoulders bounced! I saw that.” She smirks. “I knew he’d crack her.”

“What else do you like about her?” Mercedes asks.

“She’s sweet.” He says, to which she starts laughing.

“You just wait until she gets more comfortable around you. That girl’s attitude is something fiery. Other than that, yes she’s sweeter than taffy.”

“Good to know.” He nods. “Think I’ll stay on her good side.”

“I might not have to beat the brakes off you, Isaiah. We’ll keep the option on the table if need be, though.” She half-jokes, holding out her hand for him to shake.

He obliges. “Thank you. You’re not as bad as Mya made you out to be.”

“Ugh, she’s so dramatic! I only do what I do to protect my girls. They’re everything to me and I won’t let them get hurt.” She stresses, feeling her throat dry up a little.

“I’d never hurt her. She’s far too special to me, already.”

“Good. I can see you bein’ around for a while.”

“I hope so.”

Turning in her friends’ direction, she motions them back over towards the table.

“Looks like it was a lovely conversation to me.” Taylor pokes Mya’s side as she sits down beside Mercedes at the table.

“It was, you heffas.” She rolls her eyes.

“I didn’t even say anything! I already caught you laughing from the bar. That was enough for me.” Mya replies, sitting next to Isaiah. His arm instinctively wraps around her waist.

“I must be the ice witch or something!”

“Well, no you’re not. None of our boyfriends have ever made you laugh, before.” Taylor says.

“They weren’t funny.” Mercedes says to Isaiah, making him chuckle.

“Must not’ve been.”

“This is a sight to see!” Mya clasps her hands together.

“As much as I love being attacked, I need a drink. Taylor, come with me, please.”

“Looks like I’m headed back to the bar!” She sings-songs, as they head on over.

Leaving the two alone, they turn their attention to each other.

“Did I already tell you how beautiful you look?” He asks.

“You might’ve mentioned it, yeah,” she giggles.

“A couple more times wouldn’t hurt, would it?”

“Not from somebody as fine as you.” She leans in to kiss him.

“Mm, that’s how we’re feelin’, this evening?”

“We, huh?”

“You like the sound of it too, huh?”

“Full of jokes, today. C’mere.” She presses her lips back to his for another quick kiss. 

Pulling away, she leans on his shoulder. Her eyes linger on his handsome face.

“You alright?”

“I may have had a shot or two at the bar.” She shrugs, trying to keep her laughter at bay.

“You might be the only person that I know, who ignores the fact that liquor can wipe them out.” He laughs, shaking his head.

“We’re here for a good time, not a long time.”

“Agreed.” He flagged down a waitress and ordered a shot of whiskey.

“There you go!”

“You’re a bad influence.” He teases.

“A little drink ain’t never hurt nobody. I could always do worse.”

“That’s very true.”

“I’ve got another useless fact for you.” She announces after a while.

His ears perk up. “Lay it on me.”

“You can get high off nutmeg if you consume too much of it.”

His brows scrunch up, before he nods. “Where’d you hear that one from?”

“My sister.” She laughs. “She’s also mad that she hasn’t met you, yet.”

“As is my sister. Don’t be offended, but my brother’s always been kinda to himself. He did say you were pretty.”

“That’s sweet. You and your sister are close, I assume?”

“You’d be correct. She’s always been there for me. Pain in my neck, but I love’er.”

What’s it like to be loved by such a man?

“You and your sister are close too, yeah?” He asks, as his drink comes to the table.

“Two peas in a pod, yeah. She’s always been my protector in a kind of way. I used to think she was smothering me, but she saved me from a lot.”

“Big sisters for the win.” He smiles.

“Go them!” She pumps her fist in the air making him laugh.

“No more drinks for you!”

“Aw, I was just getting started!” She whines, half joking.

The group had eventually found their way towards the dance floor, as Flavor jumped to the beat of Touching by V. Cartier.

Mercedes finds herself in between a very fine man and Taylor, keeping her close, as Mya and Isaiah stand a short distance away, getting a little closer than they’ve been around the two.

“You smell good.” He compliments, his chin in the crook of her neck as they sway to the sultry beat.

She giggles at the slight slur in his words. “That’s what three shots do to you, huh Mr. Lightweight?”

“Ain’t none but a lil slur. I still got my balance.”

“Aight, if you trip, I’m getting Mercedes to record everything!” She laughs.

Chuckling, he holds her closer. “You’d do me like that??”

“Nah, I’m just playing. I’d still laugh, though.”

“That’s cold, babe.”

Her brows raise at the name. Her cheeks flush red and her friends are witnessing every minute of it, soaking it up.

“They really are so stinkin’ cute.” Mercedes comments in Taylor’s ear, who agrees right away.

“I’m calling it. That’s her man.”

A quick laugh leaves her lips. “They’ve only been dating for about two months? I think they need a little more time, no?”

“Says the girl that started dating another man, less than two weeks after ol weeny showed his ass.” Taylor quips.

“We’re talking about Mya, not me.”

“Mercedes, you like him for her, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then, relax mama. She’s in good hands. Good, strong hands.” They share a laugh.

“Okay, okay.”

After another round of shots, the group decided to call it a successful night.

“I’m glad everyone had a great time, we should do it again!” Mya says, linking her arm with Isaiah's as they walk Mercedes and Taylor to her car.

“Definitely.”

“Let me pick the spot, next time!” Taylor offers.

“Don’t have us around a bunch of stuck up white people, Tay.” Mercedes says, unlocking her car as they hug each other.

Mya snickers.

“As funny as that was,” she rolls her eyes, “I don’t even hang out in spots like that. I be with y’all!”

“She’s got a point, cedes.”

“Anywho, we won’t hold y’all up no longer. It was nice to meet you, Isaiah. Take care of our girl.”

“You ladies, too. And don’t worry, I got her. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight!” They say in unison, before getting inside the car. The pair begin heading back in the opposite direction.

The soft breeze blows through her curls, cooling her off from the warm liquor that’s running through her veins.

“Enjoy yourself?” She asks, as they make it to his truck.

“Always. I’m glad you invited me out.” He says, helping her inside, before hopping inside, himself.

“Of course. My friends really wanted to meet you and I was dying to see how this played out.” she giggles. “I’m glad it went the way I’d hoped.”

“Me too. You had me a little scared, I won’t lie.” He admits, pulling out of the parking lot.

“I did warn you! But, y’all hit it off!”

“She’s a good friend. I can tell you mean a lot to her. Both of them.” He says, making her smile.

“Those are my girls.” She softly says.

“Where to? Home?”

“Hm.. not yet. I think we’ve got one more stop to make.”

Sitting across from each other in their favorite ice cream shoppe, the pair share another double scoop of vanilla.

“You love your ice cream, huh?”

“Mmhm!” She agrees, excitedly.

How does it feel to be loved by such a woman?

“You feelin’ better, these days?” She asks in regards to the conversation they’d previously had about his father.

He sighs. “Yeah, I’m cool. Still don’t know how to really feel, but I’m cool.”

She decides not to pry any further. Instead, she sits her hand on top of his, softly squeezing.

He looks at her, a small smile on his lips. “Thank you.”

“Anytime.”

☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ.☆:☆: .☽ .☆: .☽ · 。ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆

Back at work, Mya and Savannah play catch up before her shift begins. The two stand in her office with their morning coffee as her boss almost loses her mind at the news.

“Why didn’t you tell me??”

“I wanted to make sure I wasn’t dreaming!” Mya laughs.

Savannah laughs, patting her shoulder. “I can’t blame you, but I did tell you that he was sweet on you!”

“You did.” She agrees, putting her coffee back up to her lips.

“How long has it been?”

“A little over a month since we’ve been dating. It’s nice. Really nice.”

“Just let me know when the wedding is.” She jokes, before handing her a pink folder with the word projects on the front.

“This is for your ideas, as well as the actual plans that you’ve been talking to me about for quite some time. I’ve given a particular one some thought..”

“Which one?” Mya asks.

“Oh, you know… remodeling the place doesn’t sound like a bad idea, after all. We’ve got the contractors for it and your ideas were very, very nice.”

“Savannah, don’t play with me!” She squeals, making her boss laugh.

“After the way you kept hounding me about taking you and your work more seriously, as if I never did, shame on you.” She pauses to playfully slap Mya’s hand. “I decided to take you up on all of your offers.”

“Indeed, you have! I don’t even know what to say!”

“Say you'll take it from here.”

Mya flips her curls over her shoulder. “I’ll take it from here.”

“That’s my girl!”

“Well, I guess I better start on this.” She says, before heading out.

“I can’t wait to see what you come up with.” She calls out.

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“See,” Isaiah exclaims, “I knew you had some wicked cool ideas in that head of yours.”

They sit across from each other, sharing her binder that she’d been filling up, ever since the morning.

“That’s one of my favorites, too!”

After having lunch together like always, the pair headed back to her office, after she’d shared the news about a possible remodeling of the building.

“I like the thought of tinted glass windows. That might be cool.”

“Right? It’s so simple, but it’s so cool, at the same time!”

“I’m glad you’re excited about it.” He teases, making her laugh.

“I’ve been waiting for this day to come. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love how Abstraction looks. It’s cute! I’ve just always felt like it was missing something.” She explains.

“What’s missing?”

“Pizazz.” She deadpans.

Her expression is what took him out, even receiving a single clap. She took note of the way his shoulders bounced as she laughed along.

“Oh, you should’ve seen your face.” He chuckles. “But, that’s understandable. It’s not as colorful as you think it should be?”

“It’s fine, honestly. I don’t like things too bright, myself. But, it’s just old. We need something that’ll stay timeless. Something sleek, maybe? Bolder. Maybe, that's the right word. That’s why I’ve got all these ideas. I’m trying to figure it out.”

“Well, if you need any help, Jane’s also got an eye for design. That’s if you’re cool with that.”

She smiles. “Of course. Your friends are my friends.”

“As yours are mine.” They lean in for a kiss.

“I’m glad you shared the news with me.” A smile graced her lips, before she plants them back on his.

“You were the first person I told, actually.”

His brows raise, making her laugh.

“Isaiah, please.”

“So, I’m special? Is that what that means?” He asks.

“Yes.That’s what that means.”

He nods, before leaning back in to kiss her. His hand slides up her arm to cup her cheek, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind.

He pulls away as they begin to get lost in the kiss, making her frown, yet regain her composure.

“What are you doing after work?” He asks, standing from his chair.

“Mercedes invited Taylor and I to go see her boo perform at the poetry club. I’m not really in the mood to go out, but I promised her I’d support,” she shrugs. “You wanna come with me?”

“Will it get the frown off your face, if I say yes?”

“Maybe.”

“Okay. I’ll go with you.”

Like clockwork, her pout turned into a smile.

“There she is.”

“Get out.” She laughs.

“What time am I picking you up?” He asks.

“I was actually gonna come and get you. You know.. since I invited you out, I thought I’d take it off your hands tonight.”

“Oh, alright. What time should I be ready, ma’am?”

“Six thirty, sharp. Sir.”

“Six thirty-one, got it.”

“Isaiah.”

“I kid, I kid.” He blows her a kiss, before heading out.

Sliding her binder back towards her, she jots down a couple more ideas, before closing it up.

A knock sounds at the door. She gets up to pull it open, revealing none other than Jane.

“Hey, Jane.”

Their smiles mirror.

“Hey, Mya. How’s it going?”

“It’s going great! Come on in.”

“Wow, I think your office might be cooler than mine, girl!” She compliments, looking around.

“I try to spruce it up in here a bit, you know?”

“Indeed.” She sits across from Mya. “So, I heard you’ve got a project underway.”

“Mmhm, I also heard that you have an eye for design.”

“Would you look at that,” she laughs, “looks like I came knockin’ on the right door.”

“That, you did.” Mya joins in on the laughter, shaking her head. “Isaiah works fast, doesn’t he?”

“Not usually. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him work this hard.” She says, making Mya’s cheeks flush red.

“Well,” she clears her throat, “there’s a first time for everything, right?”

“Indeed. He really really likes you.” Jane stresses.

“I really really like him, too.”

Quickly changing the subject before her cheeks burn any more, she reopens her binder.

“Okay, so I’m in the process of remodeling this place, and a girl could use all the help she can get.” She starts.

“Wow, that’s huge, Mya! Also, I’d love to help you!”

“Thank you, I appreciate it. Let me show you what I’ve got so far!” She excitedly flips through her pages, landing on one of her other favorite ideas.

“What if we take a more colorful approach? Change the dull blues and yellows to a splash of orange and pink, maybe? Sleeker lines and more modern furniture.”

“I like it! What would the individual offices look like?”

“The default color could be olive green or if anybody wanted a custom color, I’d be open to it… maybe even some prints, Ms. Cheetah lover.” She points out.

“I’m a dead giveaway, seriously.” She laughs. And it was true. Her earrings, as well as the fur lining of her blue jean jacket was cheetah print.

“It’s cute! Cheetah’s always in, especially with fall being right around the corner!”

“That’s true. So, when does this start?”

“I’m not sure, yet. We’ve got the seminar in November, which isn’t too far away. I guess I’d start after that.”

“Oh yeah, the seminar.” She smiles. “Isaiah’s going to the Gold ball. I’m so excited for him.”

“Yeah, me too. He deserves it.”

“You’re going too, right??”

“I am! I’m still in shock over it, though.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, honestly. I guess, I second guess myself. I just don’t always see the potential that other people see.” She admits.

“That’s understandable. It can be kinda tense, sometimes. You ever feel like people put pressure on you to be the best?”

“Yeah! But, I feel as if it's second nature to some. Like, they don’t mean any harm, but they leave you feeling anxious as hell, anyway?”

“Girl, you just explained my life. That’s why I just do my job and go home.”

“See, and that’s exactly why we need a revamping of sorts! I want this to be more than just a job. I want it to be somewhere that we love to be. A place where we can create and share. Where we can grow. This company deserves that. Savannah deserves that.”

“She couldn’t have picked a better person for the job. If nobody else tells you this, I will. You deserve to be in this place.”

“Thank you. That really means a lot. You deserve to be here, too!”

“Thanks!”

They share a laugh.

“Hey, we should hang out sometime.”

“I would love that.”

They exchange numbers, before Jane heads for the door.

“Well, I’m glad I stopped by. Isaiah said he’d kick my ass if I didn’t come and say hi, like we’re not cool.” She rolls her eyes. “Boys.”

“Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em, I guess.” Mya laughs.

“I suppose. I think I’ll be fine, honestly.” She snorts. “Anywho. You have a good evening, Mya. I’ll see you around.”

“You too, Jane. Thanks, again.” She salutes, before letting herself out and closing the door behind herself.

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Mya and Gina sit at her kitchen table after she'd returned home, as she’d just shared the news with her sister.

“That’s huge, girl! I’m so proud of you!” Her sister exclaims.

“Thanks! I’ve been getting that all day.”

“Duh, as you should. What did ma say?”

“She thought it would’ve happened sooner, of course. She’s even come up there and told Savannah how much a revamp would boost her company and I guess she finally listened to her.” She shrugs.

“That woman never stops.” She shakes her head.

“No. No she doesn’t.” She laughs.

“What about your boo?” The way she emphasized the last word made Mya’s cheeks heat up for the thousandth time today.

“Ugh,” she presses her fingers against her temples. “He’s very proud of me. He was the first person I told, actually.”

“Wha— you didn’t tell Mercedes first?? Ooooooh!” Gina starts cracking up.

“Gina, stop! You know that girl would have my head if she knew that. I didn’t mean it, I just kinda blurted it, cause he’s so pretty and I love when he’s happy for me.” She rambles.

“Girl, you sound like you’re in love.”

Mya’s brows scrunch up. “That’s a little extreme, no?”

“I mean, it’s not usually your style, but this isn’t just casual dating for you. You really like this man.”

She shamelessly agrees. “I do. I really do. But, it’s okay, this time. He likes me, just as much! If not more.” She giggles.

“And, Mercedes likes him!! He must be quite the charmer, cause that lil devil don’t like nobody.” They laugh.

“That’s what I told him! She surprised the hell out of me, when I saw them choppin’ it up. I knew he’d crack her though.”

“Why?”

“Cause he’s real. He’s calculated, but not in a conniving way. He’s so sweet, he’d make you blush, just by being himself. Such a dork.” She snorts.

Yup, definitely in love.

“So, when do I get to meet him?”

“When do you want to meet him?”

“Now.”

“Gina, it’s almost seven thirty on a Monday night. I know we were already hanging out tonight, but you don’t think that’s a little short notice?” Mya asks.

“Hm… yeah, I suppose. Well how about tomorrow?”

“After my meeting, yeah. That should work!” Mya agrees, quickly texting Isaiah.

“And he said that works for him, too!”

“Guess I'm meeting the beau, tomorrow!” Gina cheeses.

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And surely after her meeting, the pair met her older sister at Panera for lunch.

“Wow, you're much cuter than she described,” Gina blurts, shaking his firm hand.

He smiles, holding out Mya’s chair as they get seated.

“Thank you, thank you. It's nice to finally meet you.”

“Oh, we've all been dying to meet her knight in shining armor!”

“Gina,” her younger sister playfully warns.

“What??”

“Knight in shining armor, huh?” He chuckles, wrapping an arm around the back of her chair.

“That might've been what I said,” she playfully rolls her eyes, looking away from him as soon as he looks in her direction, giggling to herself.

“A sight,” Gina shakes her head, smiling at her sister.

“So, what do you do at Abstraction?”

“I’m one of the executive web developers. Photoshop is where I reside, most of the day.”

“Ah, that’s gotta be cool!”

“Yeah, most days. Sometimes, it can be a pain in the ass. It’s a very tedious process, depending on what part of the website I’m tryna pick apart or what I’m trying to create.”

“Ooh, so you’ll be helping Mya lay out the revamping on the website? Or have you guys talked about that yet?”

“We haven’t talked about it yet, no. But, it sounds like a good way to get your name out there!” Mya adds.

“Yeah, but I don’t wanna impose on her project. I know how much she loves those.”

“This is true, but I’d love for you to be a part.”

“Whew. For a second, I thought I said too much.” Gina laughs.

“Girl. Anyway.”

“Yeah, yeah. So Isaiah, how long have you and my sister been dating?”

“It’s been about a month and some change, yeah?” He looks to Mya, who nods.

“How cute! You seem like a nice man.”

“Anything for her.” He smiles.

“We love to hear that!”

“Mmhm,” Mya agrees, taking another bite of her sandwich.

Gina’s phone begins to ring. She looks down at it and sighs. “I’ve gotta take this. I’ll be right back.”

Excising herself, the two are left alone.

“She don't play about you, either,” he says, making her giggle.

“Not one bit! She'd probably get you before Mercedes.”

“No worries, I'm on my best behavior for you,” he promises, leaning to kiss her cheek, repeatedly.

“Cut it out!” she laughs and covers the side of her face, fanning the heat away from her cheeks.

“Hey y’all, it looks like I’ve gotta head out.” Gina comes back to the table.

“Sorry our time got cut short, but this was great! I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you.” She smiles, mirroring the couple’s like expression.

“Yes you will.” He answers, matter-of-factly.

“Thank you for lunch, sis.” Mya says, standing to hug her sister before she heads back to her office.

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Ending their evening together like usual, the pair are winding down inside of Mya's home.

She finds Isaiah on her couch, flipping through her channels. She joins him, laying her feet in his lap.

“Is this what I look like when I come over?” She questions.

“Hell yeah. You kick your feet up and everything. I won’t do that, though. Coffee table’s too nice.”

“Mm, saved by the bell.”

“Saved by the bell!” He nods. “That used to be my show, man. Poor Slater.” He frowns, making her do the same.

“Yeah, Lisa was pretty bad off, too.”

“It sucks how life does people. You’re either at the top or at the bottom.” He shakes his head.

“Or you’re stuck in the middle.” She adds.

“True. Very true…” he continues to flip through, before landing on Living Single reruns.

“Oh look. It’s our show.” She claps.

He smiles as he sits the remote down, his  left arm finding the back of the couch.

“Our, huh?” He asks.

“You like the sound of it too, huh?”

“Indeed. C’mere.”

She scoots closer to him, naturally relaxing as he wraps his arm around her. He kisses her forehead, making her swoon even more.

[sometimesenough]

When he calls you "little girl" in that deep, southern drawl.

[neverendingbookbasket]

Review Post: Where The Light Shines by Kathryn Andrews

Where The Light Shines Kathryn Andrews One Click: https://amzn.to/43OgvUo *About The Book* With a broken heart and a desperate need to hide from the spotlight, Chicago socialite Rylie Crest flees to a small town on the west coast of Florida to start over. Set on a winding crystal-clear river, under the tall pines and aging oaks, she buys an old abandoned home with hopes to restore it, only to…

[renonv]

okay but like the way you draw him and write him, roma has kind of perfect dad energy so now I'm picturing an au where he adopts a broke college student or smth lmao

ANONNN YOU DOG YOU POSSESSED ME and for the past few days I’ve been thinking and rotating this in my head… Romano adopting a broke college student au…. WORD VOMIT AHEAD HELP:

An 18 year old Elise who just lost everything as soon as she arrived in Rome, is about to give up and somehow go home, only to have her life change as a 30 something year old Romano tripped over her while taking out trash from the family restaurant he co-runs with his brother (who lately has been too busy w his personal life to truly help him!!).

After, Romano offers Elise to stay in Feliciano’s old room, and a job as a server at the restaurant. She happily agrees to stay until she gets back up on her feet.

The only thing is… Elise is not broke 😭 at this moment of time, yes she is, but she’s actually a recent runaway… she comes from a very wealthy Swiss family that only consists of her loving, yet overly protective brother. She wanted to experience life, and in order to do so, she had to run away because asking Basch didn’t work out 🤼‍♂️ many times

So now Elise’s adventure truly begins as she finally gets to live out a normal life, working her first job, making friends, and learning important life lessons from her new dad Mr. Romano (as he also learns a few new things from her as well 🫵)

Oh, and the entire time she’s in Rome, she unknowingly has to avoid being found by a team of private investigators that her Brother hired to find her (they are doing a shit job) ((having her phone stolen really saved her)).

[whegan]

intimacy

photo edited by me

[pstelwitchcraft]

You wanna know what's crazy? Now knowing that Laura and Marisha didn't plan to be romantic this campaign at all, it is INSANE that everything went so perfectly, thematically, exactly the way it did.

The series of events from the rock breaking, Dusk showing up RIGHT as it was happening, to them making up just so Otohan could show up and kill Laudna not a DAY later literally because she wanted to get on Imogen's nerves ("Is she your favorite?"). And then Imogen obliterating Delilah with her own fucking hands for Laudna. Getting the circlet. Laudna holding Imogen on the ship they were about to crash having that Tether Talk^tm just before they were separated ONCE AGAIN.

Just the entire escalation that led to them meeting in Jrusar that day and Imogen blurting out "Can I kiss you?" in the mfing BREAD ISLE because she couldn't hold back her feelings is BONKERS.

Even down to Imogen saying she "thought dates were supposed to have sparks" after their date with pretty and telling Laudna she "has the biggest spark she's ever seen" a long ass time later in Bassuras.

The evolution of their feelings for each other, the tension that was building on that table every time they talked to each other. The fact that it all happened serendipitously with absolutely no previous plan and it went just the way it did? Immaculate. Showstopping. Absolutely astounding. If Marisha, Matt and Laura had sat down and planned this whole thing from the beginning it still couldn't have gone more perfectly.

[oranttta]

my southern gothic au. gerard. 🦷🔪

[belle-keys]

“People who cease to believe in God or goodness altogether still believe in the devil... Evil is always possible. And goodness is eternally difficult.”

– Interview With the Vampire by Anne Rice (1976)

[artthatgivesmefeelings]

Pavel Aleksandrovich Svedomsky (Russian, 1848-1904) A kiss, n.d.

[nellasbookplanet]

I know this is old hat to just about everyone, but I'm more and more enjoying Imogen and Laudna as not just a mirror of the Briarwoods but also, and perhaps even more so, as a foil.

Laudna may be the death magic goth with a necromancer in her head, but out of the two of them, Imogen is the stronger mirror of Delilah. She’s the one with the undead lover, the one prepared to break the world by risking Delilah's return as long as it got her Laudna back, the one with the drive and the thirst for power and knowledge. Laudna meanwhile, while also tempted by power, is mostly just along for the ride, deeply devoted to Imogen over anything or anyone, alive only because Imogen found a way to resurrect her. They have looked each other in the eye, recognised the same seeds of darkness and the possibility of giving in, and said 'Together either way'.

But they are also in many ways a direct subversion of the Briarwoods. Delilah and Sylas both seemed perfectly happy to have made a pact with Vecna and revelled in the power he granted them, even knowing the disaster he would bring and the horrific acts he asked of them. Imogen and Laudna meanwhile, while tempted by power and openly voicing said temptation to each other, actively fight against it. Imogen was prepared to risk Delilah's return for the sake of Laudna's resurrection, but she would've fought her every step of the way. She's tempted by the power and knowledge of Ruidus, but also prepared to give all of it up if it means saving the world, because unlike Delilah she chooses to care about people other than herself and her lover. Laudna may be prepared to follow Imogen into hell itself, but she may also be what would lead her back out, because unlike Sylas she doesn’t just recognise darkness in her lover, she wants to fight it alongside her.

This is what I mean when I say these two hold the potential for great darkness. They wouldn’t function as a mirror and a foil of the most romantically iconic critical role villain duo if they didn't. But holding the potential for darkness and corruption also means holding the potential to resist and fight said darkness at every turn. It gives them the potential to choose kindness and struggle while still keeping a little bit of that darkness in their hearts, because without it, they never would have found each other.

[carm3n-carm3n]

𐬿 ✥ 𐬾

[hamletthedane]

I know people complain about the film version of Fried Green Tomatoes burying the lead a little re: the main characters being in a romantic relationship….

But let me tell you: nothing will ever beat being a 13 year old queer girl and having all your conservative southern religious relatives invite you to watch a movie where a hot woman dips her fingers in her friend’s jar of honey and slowly licks the honey off her fingers with an intense amount of eye contact. That was the day that all the wlw southern girlies learned what a visual film metaphor was.

(And then - of course - the characters kiss, quote biblical wedding vows at each other, move in together, have a baby, open a cafe, refuse to marry anybody else, possibly commit a murder, confess their undying love for each other in sworn courtroom testimony, and raise their son as a family. you know….just as friends….)

[vanalex]

[volkomenniel]

my type? definitely aggressive smoking boys

[namedvesta]

Roberto Ferri, Il Sepolcro Degli Amanti (𝟤𝟢𝟣𝟦)

[itwasntaphase]

I love reading old death certificates and old headstones in cemeteries. I make sure to say the person's name out loud and greet them even if it is just in passing because it may have been decades or even centuries since they were last spoken to. I hope someday someone does the same for me.